Photo Shoot

When my mom was out here for Halloween we took the kids outside to take pictures in our backyard. I had alot of fun taking pictures with my moms awesome camera, and I think the kids had fun being the center of attention!

The Kids

Thanksgiving Games

THANKSGIVING

We had a blast this Thanksgiving! We made the annual trek down to Temple, TX to visit my brother Ryan and his family, this year Mom and Jeff came so we had a house full! Ryan and Heather are so generous to open up their house for all of us to come and take over.
Our kids have been waiting for this trip since last Thanksgiving so getting there was long! They were constantly asking if we were there yet, it was a very loooong 6 hours. We went to the Waco Zoo the morning after we got there and had so much fun. The Zoo was small, but not confined- the kids had a blast, but really they wanted to get to the playground at the end most of all.
After the Zoo we had dinner, a great steak affair by Jeff. Then we put the kids to bed and the adults made the traditional Apple and Pumpkin Pies, then rounded up for a game of "Beans" (quite possibly the most fun game ever!)
Thanksgiving was sooo much fun. Heather is an amazing cook and had everything under control, so we were all able to go outside and enjoy the great weather and play football, have scooter races, play catch, and just have fun together. Ryan took the day off from studying and was able to come outside and play with all of us- yeah we love our Daddy!
Dinner was great, and the rest of the trip was fun also- Heather and I went shoppiing, while Grandma and Grandpa took the kids to a movie. Then we went to the park, and finally it was Brandt's Birthday dinner at Olive Garden (his choice!)- thanks again guys, you rock!
Then time came to say goodbye, until next year!

My Mother

My Mother

Does everyone think that their moms are the best,not to mention the most beautiful? Well, mine really is! She does so much for me and my family,coming out when she can and always keeping in touch. Mom I love you so much and hope that we can do all that we wish to do together! Thanks for being there for me wheneve I have needed you- a recent experience comes to mind when you were there for me. This Halloween when you came out and I got sick- you took great care of me and my family! What a vacation huh? Thanks again.

Finally Halloween

I know Halloween was over a month ago, but for those who wish to see my amazing kids all dressed up, here you go!

Pots-N-Pans

Taven and Berkley decided to play drums with ALL of my pots and pans, it was quite loud and didn't sound like music, but they had fun. I really like to see my kids playing together, it makes the times that they fight that much more tolerable.

Saturday SOCCER

This year we have both Taven and Aspen in Soccer. Taven is a Tornado again, and Aspen is on the Cupcakes.

Aspen likes to get all dressed up in her uniform and talk with her friends, it is definately not competitive for her.

Taven on the other hand has picked up the intensity a little bit, and is really trying to be the best. His speed has improved and he has a really good kick!

We love going to watch them play, even if it takes up our whole Saturday. Thank goodness their fields are in the same complex!

Mom and Dad's Bed

I think every kid loves to lay in their parents bed. Berkely has recently become a big girl (she thinks) and so now she gets to get up in our bed and play with her older brother and sister. It is just really fun to hear them in there giggling and playing with each other, they are all such good friends.

Walk the Line

Aspen's new favorite movie is "Walk The Line" The story about Johnny Cash. I think she likes June Carter singing all her songs. Aspen walks around all day long singing- I'm Going to Jackson, and I've Got Lips. It's too cute! So here we were sitting down at dinner and she started singing. She has a mouh full of food, but I couldn't resist taking a small video of her.

Cotton Country Sprint Triathlon

So when I got back to Texas after being homeless this summer, one of my friends asked me if I wanted to do a Triathlon with her. I have been wanting to do something like this for a while but never had the will power to go through with it. So this time I decided that I was going to train and give it a go. I really enjoyed working out and training, although I think that if I did it again that I would train for longer, 3 weeks was enough to get me through the race, but I could have done better with a little more training- (I think!) and a better bike, let's just say Mountain Bikes were not made for Road Racing!!!

All in all I had a great time and have a good sense of accomplishment. I hope to be able to do another one in the near future! Also my friend Krystle (who rocked the race by the way) has more pictures, so when I see them I will post a few!

What a Blessing

Berkley has added alot
to our family since she was
born a little over a year ago.
She has become a
total "Mommas Girl"
and I love it!

4 Generations!

I love that we were able to bless Berkley in Utah. It was really cool to be able to have our family there with us. I know it was over a year ago, but I just had to put this picture up- 4 generations!

Singing in the RAIN

Today was one of those days, we woke up with the rain, went to school in the rain, ate lunch with the rain, picked up kids in the rain, well you see where I am headed with this- we had a torrential down pour all day 6" so far, and it is still pouring!


Aspen has been asking me to go and play in the rain with her ever since I told her that I used to love to play in the rain when I was a little girl. So after dinner I asked if she wanted to go outside and play, Taven decided to come along and out we went. I tell you I haven't had so much fun playing in the rain ever! It reminded me of being a kid again, I just let all my silly stresses go and got drenched with my munchkins. We had a splashing water fight, races, and even took a trip across the street where the water was running up to Aspen's knee! I tell you if you havent played in the rain lately, go ahead and give it a try, it's worth it!

Expected Visitors

Ryans parents came out to visit us this Spring (I know I am a slacker- but give me credit for trying to catch up!) We had a lot of fun, just hangin around- Keli came with her little one Stetson, he and Berkley are only 5 weeks apart, so we hope they will grow up and be close cousins. The pictures of the babies in the stroller are the "Before the Walk" and "After the Walk" Thanks for coming out guys, it really means a lot!

Last Dance

These are a few pictures of Aspen on her last day of dance. She is done with dance for the moment, and is onto soccer in the fall- heaven help us!!!!

Summer is OVER!

We have had a great time this summer, going from place to place, but it is always nice to come home to my own house, MY OWN BED! (I can't tell you how much I have missed that) and my own life! We have decided to move this Saturday into a house that is down the street, so right now we are busy getting the kids ready for school, Ryan has already started school, and I am in charge of the packing- it is going pretty well, but annoying at the same time- why do I have so much stuff? This I will never understand, I don't need any of it. All I need is my family, my bed and some clothes- hey we already lived out of a suitcase all summer so I know we don't NEED any of the extra, let's be frank, CRAP! But alas, I seem to be attached to it all the same and am packing and unpacking it all up anyway. What a waste!

Catching UP!

I know it has been a while, a very long while! But I think I am ready to post a few things- where do I start? Since spring break we have done alot. Aspen is now officially 4 years old, I thought the day would never come. Berkley turned 1, and is still not walking. We moved to Amarillo for 6 weeks for a clerkship, then moved again to El Paso- where we are currently, until August when we will be heading to Utah for 2 weeks (for a much needed vacation!) So I'll see ya'll soon!

Berkley at 9 Months

Beautiful Berkley is quite a crazy girl these days. She is really social and wants to be in the middle of everything. She can now wave bye-bye and she also claps whenever anyone says yeah! It is just the cutest thing ever! She also gets a very triumphant look on her face when she has done something new- I can't believe that she is getting so big already!

100 Day

Taven had a big party for his 100th day of school. He was told to put 100 somethings on his shirt and wear it to school. Well he decided he wanted to put candy on it- and we decided to do a wrapped candy- (for the temptation!) What ended up happening was his shirt weighed about five pounds and really pulled at his neck. But he loved it and wore it all day long- the shirt has since been ripped-eaten-and thrown away!

80's STYLE!

So just to show you I still can work it- we had an 80's day at work and we all were suposed to dress up. This is the magnificent 80's hair that I came up with! I know it was FANTASTIC!!!!

FaT gIRl SmILE!!!

Oh what can I say about my littlest? She is the most determined baby! She started to crawl and that same day decided that was enough and wanted to reach for the stars- by pulling herself up on EVERYTHING!!! She really has a determined personality, she already knows what she wants and will climb-crawl-throw everything that is in her path! Ryan calls these big smiles with her eyes closed her "fat girl smile" She really is a crack up!

It's about time!

Well I have been asked to updte my blog- the only problem is I haven't been doing a whole lot of fun things lately. We have all been extremely busy with work, school, dance, T-ball, baby, working out, cleaning- after all that in a day we have all been exhausted and have just wanted to chill. But enough excuses. I love being busy and running around with my kids- that's what life is all about right?

More Christmas Time

We were very fortunate this year to see all of our family. Just a few more pictures of the kids during Christmas!

Christmas Vacation

We had a fun round of vacationing this year in Utah. We started our trip off with the long drive from Texas to Utah about 15hrs - our kids are amazing travelers- who knew a 5-3-and 6 month old could last all day in a car! Once we got to our destination we had alot of fun. Berkley was pretty sick the whole time so no one was able to see her happy personality, better luck next time! She did get two teeth for Christmas- she woke up Christmas morning with her two bottom teeth. I can't believe my baby already has teeth! Time goes by way too fast.
We went sledding a couple of times, I went skiing, and Ryan went snowmobiling, all in all we had many adventures and got to use our gear- we don't get to break it out all that often living in Texas.
The whole trip seemed to go by way too fast, and all the sudden we were in the car driving home. It does feel good to get back to our schedule, but we truly miss being around all the chaos! Hopefuly someday we can make it back for good, but for now we are happy where we are.